New Labour war over second referendum

LABOUR descended into civil war over Brexit last night as senior figures demanded that the party commit to a second referendum in all circumstances.

The party’s deputy leader Tom Watson went over Jeremy Corbyn’s head to urge activists to lobby for a second poll.

He appealed to campaigners to lobby members of the party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) ahead of a meeting which will decide whether to make a manifesto commitment to a ‘confirmatory’ referendum in next month’s European Parliament elections. Mr Watson published details of NEC members and told his 300,000 Twitter followers: ‘Please let your reps on the NEC know if you want them to support a confirmatory ballot on a Brexit deal.’

He was backed by Momentum chief Jon Lansman, who said: ‘Surely we can all agree a confirmatory vote.’

The idea of a second referendum is opposed by senior members of Mr Corbyn’s inner circle, who fear it would enrage party supporters who backed Brexit.

Labour’s business spokesman, Rebecca Long-Bailey, yesterday suggested the party’s call for a second referendum would not apply if it did a deal with Theresa May.

She told Sky News: ‘Our priority in these negotiations is to find the consensus and to get a deal that will protect the economy.’

Labour’s communities spokesman Andrew Gwynne also played down the need for a second poll, telling the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: ‘I want to ensure that we avoid a bad Tory Brexit or a No Deal scenario.’

The shadow cabinet will meet tomorrow to agree a position ahead of the publication of the party’s manifesto next week.